Bandits strike again in Kano, kidnap women, children

Armed bandits have abducted at least eight residents of Biresawa village in Tsanyawa Local Government Area of Kano State, throwing the community into renewed panic and uncertainty.

Local sources said the attackers stormed the village between 11 p.m. and midnight on Monday, moving quietly before striking. One source confirmed that “two males and six females were taken away by the bandits,” adding that there has been no word on their whereabouts.

A relative of some of the victims, Kabiru Usman, described the terrifying incident, saying the gunmen entered the community on foot through neighbouring Tsundu village.

“They came on foot, armed with guns. They kidnapped my wife, Umma; my 17-year-old daughter, Fati; my brother’s wife, and two other women,” he said.

“We tried to stop them, but our weapons were no match for their guns.”

Residents said they had earlier alerted security operatives after receiving intelligence that the assailants were heading toward their area.

“We notified the security agencies because they gave us their numbers and asked us to call if we got any information,” a resident said.

Multiple communities, including Sarmawa, Yan Chibi, and Gano in Tsanyawa LGA, were also attacked the same night.

A witness from Yan Chibi said about 50 bandits riding motorcycles stormed the area, shooting into the air and causing residents to run for safety.

“We later discovered they had abducted mostly women. I can confirm to you that over 10 people were taken,” he said.

A vigilante source said local watch groups had earlier reported suspicious movements, which led to mobilisation, but attempts to chase the bandits after the abductions were unsuccessful as they escaped toward Katsina State.

The repeated attacks in Tsanyawa, Shanono, and Bagwai LGAs have caused widespread displacement, with many families fleeing their homes nightly or relocating permanently to Faruruwa town and other safer areas.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, had not responded to calls.

This latest incident comes weeks after bandits invaded Yan Kwada village in the Faruruwa community of Shanono LGA, where five women, including nursing mothers, were abducted.

That attack occurred shortly after a joint military operation in the area neutralised 19 suspected bandits.

The growing wave of insecurity continues to keep rural communities on edge as authorities face mounting pressure to restore peace.

Join Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!